Statement Regarding Police Attendance at Queens Park

Townsville Touch Football (TTF) wish to provide clarification regarding Queensland Police Service (QPS) attendance at our Queens Park touch football venue last night during competition hours.

QPS officers attended Queens Park and advised that they were attending as part of a series of checks on local gatherings.

The officers met with members of the TTF Executive Committee and the competition’s administrator, reviewed operations and measures taken, and praised the organisation with the way it was operating and meeting requirements regarding the COVID-19 situation.

No other action was taken by police.

TTF is continuing to monitor the situation and take advice from the relevant state and federal health authorities and the sport’s governing bodies. We are also regularly releasing information via our website and social media platforms to keep members up-to-date with our position.

The TTF Executive Committee released a statement (available from www.townsvilletouch.com) on Monday 16 March, 2020, regarding their position on COVID-19, and advised that their position would only change based on factual information released from the relevant state and federal health authorities and the sport’s governing bodies.

The competition has since taken further recommendations from Touch Football Australia (TFA), including:

  • Removing the requirements for players to remain in the designated “interchange area” and instead allowed interchanges to occur at any point on the sideline.
  • Moving shared interchange areas to the opposite side of fields to provide further ability to distance players and officials (where possible).
  • Suspended it’s “whistle loan” program for duty referees indefinitely.
  • Discouraged non-essential members from attending during competition hours.
  • Removed spectators from the sidelines of all fields and made regular announcements regarding maintaining safe distance between each other.

TTF are awaiting further advice and recommendations from TFA in relation to Sunday night’s announcement by the Prime Minister and will update members should the committee’s position change.

TFA released the following short statement via their website (www.touchfootball.com.au) this morning:

“Touch Football Australia (TFA) is continuing to monitor the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is aware of the recent announcements by Federal and State authorities.”

“It remains unclear as to the impact that these recent announcements will have on outdoor community sport.”

“TFA is reconvening with Sport Australia and relevant authorities today to seek expert advice on whether the Community Sport Guidelines put in place last week will remain or change.”

“A further update will be provided by TFA, the NSW Touch Association and Queensland Touch Football following those discussions this afternoon.”

 

For more information please contact:

Kerrod Hall – Marketing and Promotions, Townsville Touch Football
Ph: 0400 709 054 // Email: media@townsvilletouch.com

This release may be quoted and attributed to a Townsville Touch Football spokesperson.